OKEECHOBEE BATTLEFIELD
HISTORIC STATE PARK

By  Mike Miller April 24, 2025

Okeechobee Battlefield Historic State Park in Okeechobee County, Florida, near the northern shore of Lake Okeechobee, preserves a pivotal site of the Second Seminole War.

Designated a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1961, this 145-acre park commemorates the Battle of Okeechobee, fought on Christmas Day 1837.

Okeechobee Battlefield Reeanactment

Visitors can explore interpretive signs, a replica Seminole chickee hut, and open fields that echo a turbulent past, making it a compelling stop for history buffs and nature enthusiasts.

The Battle of Okeechobee was a turning point in the Second Seminole War (1835–1842), the longest and costliest of three wars between U.S. forces and Native American tribes.

On December 25, 1837, Colonel Zachary Taylor led approximately 800 U.S. soldiers, including the 1st, 4th, and 6th Infantry Regiments and Missouri volunteers, against 380–480 Seminole and Miccosukee warriors led by chiefs like Alligator and Wild Cat.

The Seminoles, resisting forced removal under the Indian Removal Act, used a low hummock and dense sawgrass for defense.

Despite heavy U.S. losses — 28 killed, 112 wounded —Taylor’s forces claimed victory, capturing 100 horses and 600 cattle.

The battle diminished Seminole resistance, paving the way for Taylor’s rise to national hero and eventual U.S. presidency.

Only 12 Seminole bodies were found, highlighting their strategic retreat to the Everglades. 

Located at 3500 SE 38th Ave, Okeechobee, four miles southeast of downtown, the park is accessible via US 441/98 near Taylor Creek.

Open Wednesday–Sunday, 8 am to 5 pm, admission is free, though a fee applies during the annual February reenactment.

Facilities include accessible restrooms, a picnic pavilion, and parking. Visitors should bring water and sun protection, as the park lacks extensive shade.

Check the Florida State Parks website for reenactment details, and consider nearby Lake Okeechobee for fishing or birding post-visit.

• The battlefield, once covered in 6-foot sawgrass, is now agricultural, altering its historical appearance.   

• A 1939 marker, erected by the Daughters of the American Revolution, honors fallen officers like Colonel Richard Gentry.  

• The park hosts diverse birdlife, including bald eagles and crested caracara, ideal for wildlife enthusiasts.  

• The annual reenactment, supported by the Okeechobee Battlefield Friends, draws crowds to experience living history, complete with Seminole and U.S. encampments showcasing period crafts.  

• In 2000, the site was listed among America’s most endangered historic places due to encroaching development. 

OKEECHOBEE BATTLEFIELD
HISTORIC STATE PARK WEBSITE